Yesterday we reported on the suspension of Lynchburg starter Ryan Weber for undisclosed reasons. One of the dominos in the chain reaction that caused was the promotion of left-hander Williams Perez to Lynchburg from Class A Rome.
And Monday night, his first Lynchburg outing arguably surpassed any performance in Rome as he worked six scoreless innings in an 8-1 win. But Williams, 22, is not anywhere on our Braves top thirty (one) prospects list that you will see in its entirely today. Should he be?
He had to push aside some butterflies in the stomach to do it, but Williams Perez cruised through his Class A Advanced debut. The native Venezuelan unfurled six scoreless innings, giving up three hits and a walk while striking out seven in Lynchburg's 8-1 win at Wilmington on Monday.
"I won't lie, I was really nervous," Perez said through translater and fellow Hillcats hurler Carlos Perez. "After the 1-2-3 first inning, I had a lot more confidence to get going," Perez said. "Thanks to God, everything was working for me. I tried to work primarily off my two-seam fastball and my curveball."
The 22-year-old immediately felt a difference between the Carolina League and the Class A South Atlantic League, where he began his first stateside full season.
"I was facing more experienced hitters," he said. "I knew I couldn't be down in the count, so I was always trying to get ahead."
He struck out the side in the fifth, pitching around a two-out single, and worked a 1-2-3 sixth.
"It felt good," he said. "I felt like I would be able to longer, but my pitch count was up, so that's why I had to come out."
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TUEDSAY
Gwinnett, idle.
Mississippi, idle.
Lynchburg, idle.
Rome, idle.
ROOKIE LEAGUES
Suspended Game
GCB Braves 5, GCL Blue Jays 0 (4th)
SP: Caicedo 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K.
Arno 1-4, R, HR (2nd), Sanchez 0-1, RBI; V. Reyes 1-1, 2 R, SB; Odom 1-1.
GCL Braves (7-10) @ GCL Blue Jays, 10 a.m.
SP: TBA.
DSL Braves (15-18) @ DSL Blue Jays, 10:30 a.m.
SP: TBA
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